Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is not luck of the draw. Millions of Americans are living with PAD, yet 68% have never heard of it. Because PAD can develop with few or no noticeable symptoms, some people may not know they have it until it becomes a life- and limb-threatening emergency. When symptoms do appear, leg pain, cramping, coldness in the leg or wounds that are slow to heal may be dismissed as “just aging”—but they are not a normal part of aging. PAD develops over time when plaque narrows or blocks the arteries that carry blood to the legs or arms. It is like a heart attack, but in the legs or arms. As blood flow decreases, the muscles receive less oxygen and fewer nutrients. When PAD goes unrecognized or untreated, it can cause chronic pain, reduce mobility and independence and increase the risk of limb loss. If PAD is new to you, now is the time to learn the risk factors and warning signs. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms or risk factors for PAD. September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month. Help us raise awareness by liking, commenting on or sharing our posts throughout the month. #PAD #PeripheralArteryDisease #HighwaytoHealth #VascularHealth

There are many pressures that can make a career in medicine difficult to sustain — burnout, prior authorization, regulatory requirements and demanding workloads. Women in surgery can face additional challenges, including gender bias, fewer opportunities for mentorship and advancement and the disproportionate career impact of caregiving. The impact is significant: women in vascular surgery are more than twice as likely to leave practice as their male colleagues. Across medicine, women who leave clinical practice do so at a median age of 49, compared with 64 for men. At a time when vascular surgery is already facing a significant workforce shortage, losing experienced women from the field is a loss our specialty, and our patients, cannot afford. Supporting women in vascular surgery means investing in mentorship, education and leadership development; improving pregnancy, parental leave and return-to-work policies; and being the kind of colleague who helps others access those opportunities and resources. 🤝 Who has supported, mentored or inspired you in your career? Tag them below or share a story in the comments. #WomensEqualityDay #VascSurg #WomenInMedicine

Congratulations to our newly elected officers: William Shutze, MD, Vice President, and Bernadette Aulivola, MD, Treasurer! Thank you to all who voted—your participation helps SVS remain member-driven and focused on advancing vascular surgery, supporting our members and improving care for patients with vascular disease. @ShutzeW @BAulivolaMD